Mental Health

Anxiety - Its Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

It's common to have anxiety now and then. Many people fret about their health, finances, or family issues. However, anxiety disorders go beyond momentary apprehension or fear. For people who suffer from an anxiety disorder, it persists and may even worsen over time. The symptoms might affect daily tasks like work performance, academic progress, and interpersonal connections.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of disquiet that can range from minor to severe, including worry or fear. Everybody experiences anxious symptoms occasionally. For instance, you might experience anxiety and worry before an exam, a medical exam, or a job interview. Feeling worried in such circumstances can be very normal. 

However, some people struggle to restrain their fears. Their anxiousness is more pervasive and frequently interferes with their regular activities. 

You might have trouble falling asleep at night since you frequently wonder about the past or the future. Additional signs may include a rapid or irregular heartbeat, fainting or drowsiness, headaches, chest pains, or loss of appetite.

What causes anxiety?

Although the exact reason for anxiety is not entirely understood, several variables likely interact to contribute to the disorder.

• Stress

• Other health conditions like diabetes or depression

• First-degree relatives who have the illness

• Environmental factors like child abuse, 

• Drug use

• Claustrophobia

• Any medication you are taking

Additionally, scientists think it originates from the parts of the brain in charge of managing fear and memory storage and retrieval for emotional and fear-related experiences.

What are the types of anxiety disorders?

Several types of anxiety disorders are:

• Phobias

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

• Panic attacks or panic disorder

• Separation anxiety

Additionally, anxiety disorders have characteristics in common with other mental health diseases. These include obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder? 

GAD can bring on both mental and physical symptoms. Although they differ from person to person, some of these might be:

• Feeling tense, anxious, or restless 

• Being fatigued and having trouble focusing 

• Having a bad mood

• Experiencing headaches, muscle aches, stomach aches, or other pains without apparent cause

• Difficulty controlling worry

• Experiencing issues with sleep, such as trouble falling or staying asleep

When to see a doctor?

Consult a doctor if: 

• You believe excessive worry affects other aspects of your life, such as work and relationships. 

• Your dread, worry, or anxiety upsets you and is challenging to manage. 

• You have anxiety combined with depression, difficulties with alcohol or drug use, or other mental health issues. 

• You believe there may be a connection between your anxiety and a medical condition.

• You exhibit suicidal thoughts or actions; if this is the case, get emergency help immediately. 

If you don't get help, your problems will not go away and might even worsen. 

When does anxiety turn into mental illness? 

When anxiety starts interfering with your capacity to live a full life, it might develop into a mental health issue. You should get help if your anxiety feels extreme and lasts for a long time or if your responses to events are out of proportion. 

You might have a panic attack if your sensations of fear and worry are extremely strong and unexpected.

Learn more about how to live an anxiety-free life here.

Panic attacks

A panic attack is characterized by abrupt, extreme anxiety. Shaking, feeling disoriented, nausea, rapid, irregular heartbeats, parched mouth, breathlessness, sweat, and dizziness are just a few of the physical signs and symptoms of panic attacks. Although not hazardous, panic attack symptoms can be quite frightening.

How can you manage a panic attack? 

Although they can be terrifying, panic attacks normally last between 5 and 20 minutes and shouldn't be dangerous. You can do a few things to lessen the severity of a panic attack if you're having one, like:

• Focus on taking slow, even breaths in and out while counting to five

• Concentrate on your senses by holding something soft or indulging in a mint-flavored treat.

• For some people, stamping the area has also been beneficial.

Treatment for Anxiety

You can discuss treatment choices with a doctor once you've been diagnosed with anxiety. However, getting treated can help you overcome your symptoms and live a more tolerable daily life. 

There are three types of anxiety treatments:

• Psychotherapy: It includes cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure response prevention.

• Complemental health techniques:  There are alternative ways to treat your anxiety, such as mindfulness, yoga, and stress management techniques.

• Medication: Antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication is prescribed by doctors.

Meeting with a therapist or psychologist can help you discover practical methods and coping strategies for handling stress when it arises.

Avoid drinking, smoking, and gambling if you're worried because these activities might alter the amounts of specific brain chemicals and worsen the problem. Set modest, achievable goals for yourself when addressing the underlying causes of anxiety. Avoid attempting to tackle too much at once. 

Medication for anxiety management

Your doctor might recommend medication to help you control anxiety symptoms if it doesn't go away. Even if it takes some time for them to start functioning, antidepressant medications, which are typically given, can also be quite useful for anxiety. 

You may learn more about some of the medications that doctors frequently recommend for depression, stress, and anxiety in the medication guide.

Visit our pharmacy to buy medicines for anxiety.